Image capturing apparatus, method of controlling same and program therefor

ABSTRACT

An image capturing apparatus for capturing the image of a subject includes: a lock/unlock unit adapted to lock and unlock operation of the image capturing apparatus; a registration unit adapted to register a main item and a sub-item that have been selected by a user, wherein the main item is a main setting item among operation items of the image capturing apparatus and the sub-item is a setting item in a layer lower than that of the main item; and a control unit adapted to limit operation solely to a release operation of the image capturing apparatus and to the main item and sub-item, which have been registered by the registration unit, in a case where operation of the image capturing apparatus has been locked by the lock/unlock unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 12/033,335,filed Feb. 19, 2008 the entire disclosure of which is herebyincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a technique in an image capturingapparatus such as a digital camera that makes it possible to operate anitem desired by a user even in a case where the image capturingapparatus is locked against operation.

2. Description of the Related Art

Digital cameras have become widespread in recent years and now are beingused also in photo studios that have been employing conventionalsilver-halide cameras. In a photo studio, often a picture is taken in anenvironment in which the brightness of illumination and the whitebalance are fixed, and often a picture is taken with exposure fixed aswell. For this reason, often the camera is set so as to lock items forwhich a change is unnecessary, such as the aperture and shutter speed,and to make possible only a minimum necessary operation, such asoperation of shutter speed.

Further, in accordance with the specification of Japanese PatentLaid-Open No. 6-103239, a portable computer in which the environment inwhich a system is used is changed in response to a match with a passwordis disclosed.

However, there are cases where a function that the photographer wishesto render operable differs depending upon the circumstances at theparticular photo studio. Conventionally, if camera settings are locked,only functions decided in advance are operable and these cannot bechanged. That is, inconveniences can arise, such as a case where afunction that the photographer wishes to lock cannot be locked, or,conversely, a case where a function that the photographer desires tooperate has been locked.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been devised in view of theabove-described circumstances and seeks to make it possible to operate acamera function desired by a user even in a case where the camera islocked against operation.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, the foregoingobject is attained by providing an image capturing apparatus forcapturing the image of a subject, comprising: a lock/unlock unit adaptedto lock and unlock operation of the image capturing apparatus; aregistration unit adapted to register a main item and a sub-item thathave been selected by a user, wherein the main item is a main settingitem among operation items of the image capturing apparatus and thesub-item is a setting item in a layer lower than that of the main item;and a control unit adapted to limit operation solely to a releaseoperation of the image capturing apparatus and to the main item andsub-item, which have been registered by the registration unit, in a casewhere operation of the image capturing apparatus has been locked by thelock/unlock unit.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the foregoingobject is attained by providing a method of controlling an imagecapturing apparatus for capturing the image of a subject, comprising: alock/unlock step of locking and unlocking operation of the imagecapturing apparatus; a registration step of registering a main item anda sub-item that have been selected by a user, wherein the main item is amain setting item among operation items of the image capturing apparatusand the sub-item is a setting item in a layer lower than that of themain item; and a control step of limiting operation solely to a releaseoperation of the image capturing apparatus and to the main item andsub-item, which have been registered at the registration step, in a casewhere operation of the image capturing apparatus has been locked at thelock/unlock step.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a portion of a digital camera that governsthe processing of image data in an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of the digital camera of this embodiment as seenfrom the back thereof and illustrates an operating unit and display unitplaced on the back panel of the digital camera;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a menu screen displayed duringoperation of the digital camera according to this embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a menu screen displayed duringoperation of the digital camera according to this embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a menu screen displayed duringoperation of the digital camera according to this embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a menu screen displayed duringoperation of the digital camera according to this embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a menu screen displayed duringoperation of the digital camera according to this embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a menu screen displayed duringoperation of the digital camera according to this embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a menu screen displayed duringoperation of the digital camera according to this embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a menu screen displayed duringoperation of the digital camera according to this embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a menu screen displayed duringoperation of the digital camera according to this embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a menu screen displayed duringoperation of the digital camera according to this embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a menu screen displayed duringoperation of the digital camera according to this embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a menu screen displayed duringoperation of the digital camera according to this embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a menu screen displayed duringoperation of the digital camera according to this embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a menu screen displayed duringoperation of the digital camera according to this embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a menu screen displayed duringoperation of the digital camera according to this embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating an operation for setting the digitalcamera according to this embodiment; and

FIGS. 19A and 19B are flowcharts illustrating operation for locking andunlocking operation of the digital camera according to this embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

An overview of this embodiment will be described first.

In the digital camera of this embodiment, a user is capable of changingand setting various parameters (setting items) relating to photographicuse of the camera using a cross key placed on the back of the digitalcamera and a menu screen displayed on a display unit on the back of thecamera. These setting items include a metering mode setting, abracketing setting, a shooting mode setting, an ISO sensitivity setting,a shutter speed setting, an aperture setting, a white balance setting,an image size setting and a picture style setting, etc.

Examples of the metering mode that can be set include averagingmetering, centerweighted metering, centerweighted averaging metering,spot metering, and evaluation metering for dividing a screen into aplurality of areas, measuring the brightness of each divisional area anddeciding exposure by evaluating the brightness of each divisional area.Examples of a bracketing setting item are an item for setting how manyimages will be shot by a single depression of the shutter-release buttonand an item for setting to what extent exposure or white balance ischanged for every image. A single-shooting mode and acontinuous-shooting mode are examples of shooting modes that can be set.ISO sensitivities that can be set are ISO 100 to ISO 3200, by way ofexample. Shutter speeds that can be set are, e.g., 30 sec to 1/8000 sec.Settable aperture values are, e.g., F2.8 to F32. Further, sunlight,fluorescent lamp, electric bulb and cloudy weather, etc., can be set forwhite balance. Examples of settable image sizes are 6,000,000 and3,000,000 pixels, etc., in the case of a camera that uses10,000,000-pixel image sensor. Further, “picture style” refers to afunction whereby the sharpness or color balance of shot image data canbe changed according to user preference.

In this embodiment, it is possible for these setting items to be lockedagainst change depending upon the volition of the user. In this case,the user selects items that are not desired to be locked from amongthese setting items and sets them as items not locked, thereby making itpossible to change the settings only of the items that have beenselected by the user, even in a case where operation of the digitalcamera has been placed in the locked state.

As a result, it is possible for the user to change only items desired tobe changed, and only items for which a change in setting is not desiredcan be placed in the locked state by the user. This has the effect ofenhancing user convenience.

This embodiment will now be described in detail.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a portion of the digital camera thatgoverns the processing of image data in this embodiment of the presentinvention.

The blocks in FIG. 1 are structural elements classified function byfunction. First, an image capture unit 11 includes an image sensor suchas a CCD or CMOS sensor. An image processing unit 12 applies prescribedimage processing to the image captured by the image capture unit 11 andconverts this image to a JPEG image or RAW image. A recording medium 13records the image data that has been image-processed by the imageprocessing unit 12 and comprises a removable image recording medium suchas a memory card. A recording-medium sensor 14 senses that a newrecording medium has been inserted. A controller/arithmetic unit 15 hasa program-workspace memory and a microcomputer. A program executed bythe controller/arithmetic unit 15 has been written to a program memory16, which usually is constituted by a ROM. A work memory 17 is used as aworkspace memory for the controller/arithmetic unit 15, as a workspacememory employed when a shot image is subjected to image processing, andas an image buffer memory for storing image data temporarily. It isusually constituted by a RAM. A display unit 18 displays shot images andimages that have been recorded on a recording medium. The display unit18 is also used as a menu screen for making various settings using anoperating unit 19. The latter allows the operator to set imageprocessing and to designate shooting. A power supply unit 20 suppliespower to the overall digital camera.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of the digital camera of this embodiment as seenfrom the back thereof and illustrates the operating unit and displayunit placed on the back panel of the digital camera.

The display unit 18 shown in FIG. 1 is illustrated in FIG. 2. Operatingmembers 191 to 195 constitute the operating unit 19 of FIG. 1.Specifically, member 191 is a power switch. When the power switch 191 isin the OFF position, supply of power from the power supply unit 20 tothe digital camera is stopped and the digital camera is placed in thepower OFF state. When the power switch 191 is in the ON position, poweris supplied from the power supply unit 20 to the digital camera and thedigital camera is placed in the power ON state. Member 192 is a crosskey. The cross key 192 can be used to select a memory item or to selecta reproduced image in response to pressing of any of up, down, left andright keys. The member 193 is a decide key, which is used when an itemthat has been selected in a menu by the cross key 192 is finalized. Themember 194 is a playback button, which is used when an image isreproduced and displayed on the display unit 18. The member 195 is amenu button, which is used when a menu is to be displayed.

Next, reference will be had to the back-panel diagram, menu screendiagrams and flowcharts of FIGS. 2 to 19B to describe operation forplacing the setting items of various shooting parameters in thisembodiment in the locked state or unlock state.

Described first will a method of selecting a main setting item and amethod of selecting a subordinate setting item in a layer lower thanthat of the main setting item when operation of the camera is in theunlocked state. The main item and sub-item are shooting parameters thatare not locked in this state.

First, at step S1 in FIG. 18, the camera is placed in the power ON statewhen the power switch 191 is operated by the user.

When the menu button 195 is pressed by the user at step S2, thecontroller/arithmetic unit 15 displays the menu of FIG. 3 on the imagesensor package 3. The menu depicted in FIG. 3 is a menu that displayssetting items for which a selection not to lock has been made by theuser. This menu shall be referred to as “MY MENU”. The two items at thebottom are items necessary for setting of “MY MENU”, and the three menuitems in the upper section are menu items that have already beenregistered in “MY MENU” as setting items not to be locked.

If the user wishes to increase or decrease the number of setting itemsthat are not to be locked, then “MY SETTING MENU” is selected by thecross key 192 at step S4. When this is done, the controller/arithmeticunit 15 displays the selected menu item in a bold item border so thatselection can be discerned. If the user decides entry by pressing thedecide key 193, the controller/arithmetic unit 15 displays the menu ofFIG. 4 on the display unit 18.

While observing the menu illustrated in FIG. 4, the user selects“REGISTER” using the cross key 192 and finalizes this using the decidekey 193 at step S5. When this is done, the controller/arithmetic unit 15displays a registration item menu of the kind illustrated in FIG. 5 onthe display unit 18.

While observing the registration item menu illustrated in FIG. 5, theuser selects, e.g., “METERING MODE” by the cross key 192 and finalizesthis using the decide key 193 at step S6. When this is done, thecontroller/arithmetic unit 15 displays a message of the kind shown inFIG. 6 on the display unit 18.

While observing the message illustrated in FIG. 6, the user selects “OK”by the cross key 192 and finalizes this using the decide key 193 at stepS7.

In response to this operation, the controller/arithmetic unit 15registers the metering mode on the “MY MENU” screen at step S8 (see FIG.7). As a result, even if the camera has been placed in a state lockedagainst operation, the “METERING MODE” setting can be renderedchangeable.

Although a case where a setting is made so as not to lock the “METERINGMODE” has been described, an item set so as not to be locked can beselected freely by the user depending upon the wishes of the user fromthe registration menu items illustrated in FIG. 5. Further, by repeatingthe same operation, it is possible to set a plurality of items so as notto be locked.

When registration is performed at step S8, a transition is made to themenu illustrated in FIG. 7.

While observing the menu illustrated in FIG. 7, the user selects“METERING MODE” again by the cross key 192 and finalizes this using thedecide key 193 at step S9.

In response to this operation, the controller/arithmetic unit 15displays a metering mode setting menu, which is shown in FIG. 8, on thedisplay unit 18 at step S10. In FIG. 8, all metering modes areselectable.

At step S11, if the user selects the menu item “METERING MODERESTRICTION”, the controller/arithmetic unit 15 displays a metering moderestricting menu, which is shown in FIG. 9, on the display unit 18.Using the cross key 192 and decide key 193, the user places a check markat the side of menu items (e.g., “PARTIAL METERING” and “SPOTMETERING”), which the user wishes to make non-selectable, in themetering mode restricting menu of FIG. 9. The user then selects “APPLY”and finalizes this. As a result, even in a case where the camera hasbeen placed in a state in which it is locked against operation, thesetting of “METERING MODE” is changeable but selection items arerestricted in such a manner that partial metering and spot meteringcannot be selected as metering modes.

Although partial metering and spot metering have been set here so as notto be selectable, it is possible for the user to freely select itemsdesired to be rendered non-selectable from the metering mode restrictingmenu illustrated in FIG. 9. Further, a plurality of items can be madenon-selectable.

While observing the menu illustrated in FIG. 7, the user selects“METERING MODE” again by the cross key 192 and finalizes this using thedecide key 193 at step S12.

In response to this operation, the controller/arithmetic unit 15displays a metering mode setting menu, which is shown in FIG. 10, on thedisplay unit 18 at step S10. In the case of this example, partialmetering and spot metering are dimmed to render them non-selectable. Asa result, even in a case where the camera has been placed in a state inwhich it is locked against operation, partial metering and spot meteringcan no longer be selected.

Next, reference will be had to the back-panel diagram of FIG. 2, menuscreen diagrams of FIGS. 11 to 17 and the flowchart of FIGS. 19A and 19Bto describe a method of switching between the unlocked and locked statesand a change of password.

Steps S1 to S3 in FIG. 19A are similar to those in the flowchart of FIG.18 and need not be described again.

If the user wishes to change over the locked state of the camera orwishes to change the password, then the user selects “SET LOCK/CHANGEPASSWORD” from the menu of FIG. 11 by the cross key 192 and finalizesthis by the decide key 193 at step S14. When this is done, thecontroller/arithmetic unit 15 displays the menu of FIG. 12 on thedisplay unit 18.

While observing the menu illustrated in FIG. 12 and using the cross key192 and decide key 193, the user enters an already set password, selects“CHANGE PASSWORD” and finalizes this at step S15.

At step S16, the controller/arithmetic unit 15 determines whether theentered password is correct or not. Control proceeds to step S17 if theentered password is correct and returns to step S15 if the enteredpassword is not correct.

The controller/arithmetic unit 15 displays a menu shown in FIG. 13 onthe display unit 18 at step S17. While observing the menu illustrated inFIG. 13 and using the cross key 192 and decide key 193, the user entersa new password, selects “SET” and finalizes this. When this is done, thecontroller/arithmetic unit 15 changes the password to the new passwordand the menu returns to the menu shown in FIG. 14.

If the user wishes to place the camera in the locked state, then, usingthe cross key 192 and decide key 193, the user enters the already setpassword, selects “SET LOCK” and finalizes this at step S18 on the menushown in FIG. 14.

At step S19, the controller/arithmetic unit 15 determines whether theentered password is correct or not. Control proceeds to step S20 if theentered password is correct and returns to step S18 if the enteredpassword is not correct.

The controller/arithmetic unit 15 displays a menu shown in FIG. 15 onthe display unit 18 at step S20. This screen displays only the itemsthat have been registered in “MY MENU”. That is, only a change of itemsregistered in “MY MENU” and a release operation are possible; items thathave not been registered in “MY MENU” are locked and cannot be changed.

While observing the menu shown in FIG. 7, the user selects “METERINGMODE” by the cross key 192 and finalizes this by the decide key 193 atstep S21.

In response to this operation, the controller/arithmetic unit 15displays a metering mode setting menu, which is shown in FIG. 16, on thedisplay unit 18 at step S22. In this example, partial metering and spotmetering are dimmed to render them non-selectable.

If the user wishes to release the camera from the locked state, then,while observing the menu shown in FIG. 15, the user selects “RELEASELOCK” by the cross key 192 and finalizes this by the decide key 193.When this is done, the controller/arithmetic unit 15 displays the menushown in FIG. 17 on the display unit 18.

While observing the menu shown in FIG. 17 and using the cross key 192and decide key 193, the user enters the already set password, selects“RELEASE LOCK” and finalizes this.

At step S25, the controller/arithmetic unit 15 determines whether theentered password is correct or not. Control proceeds to step S26 if theentered password is correct and returns to step S24 if the enteredpassword is not correct.

At step S26, the screen returns to the menu shown in FIG. 16, operationof the camera is placed in the unlocked state and all camera functionsbecome capable of being used.

Thus, as described above, when the camera has been locked againstoperation, the user is capable of selecting a menu item desired to beoperated. This has the effect of broadening the operation variationsavailable when the camera has been locked against operation.

Further, since it is possible to select a main item and a sub-item in alayer lower than the main item, the range of setting of camera settingparameters can also be set, by way of example, and it becomes possibleto adopt a method of use in which, depending upon the circumstances at aphoto studio, the brightness parameter is allowed to be changed inlimited fashion even if operation of the camera has been locked.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

The object of the embodiment is attained also by the following method:Specifically, a storage medium (or recording medium) on which theprogram codes of the software for implementing the functions of theforegoing embodiment is supplied to a system or apparatus. A computer(CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reads out and executes theprogram codes stored on the storage medium. In this case, the programcodes per se read from the storage medium implement the functions of theembodiment and the storage medium storing the program codes constitutesthe invention. Further, by executing the program codes read out by thecomputer, not only are the functions of the embodiment implemented butthe following is included in the present invention as well:Specifically, an operating system or the like running on the computerexecutes some or all of the actual processing based upon the indicationsin the program codes, and the functions of the above-describedembodiment are implemented by this processing.

Furthermore, the following case also is included in the presentinvention. Specifically, program code read from storage medium iswritten to a memory provided on a function expansion card inserted intothe computer or provided in a function expansion unit connected to thecomputer. Thereafter, a CPU or the like provided on the functionexpansion card or function expansion unit performs some or all of actualprocessing based upon the indication in the program codes, and thefunctions of the above embodiment are implemented by this processing.

In a case where the present invention is applied to the above-mentionedstorage medium, program code corresponding to the procedures describedearlier is stored on this storage medium.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2007-039827, filed Feb. 20, 2007, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image capturing apparatus for capturing the image of a subject, comprising: a first setting unit configured to set able/unable to operate a desired main-item among a plurality of main-items in an operation menu of the image capturing apparatus which designates an image capturing condition of the image capturing apparatus; a second setting unit configured to set able/unable to operate a desired sub-item among a plurality of sub-items in a lower layer than that of the main item; a display unit configured to display the operation menu based on the setting of said first and second setting units when the image capturing apparatus is in an image capturing mode; a control unit configured to set user's operation to the operable main-item and sub-item enable and set user's operation to the inoperable main-item and sub-item disable; and a determination unit configured to determine the image capturing condition based on the operable main-item and sub-item.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main-item of the operation menu includes at least one of a photometry mode setting, a bracket setting, an image capturing mode setting, an ISO sensitivity setting, a shutter speed setting, an aperture setting, a white balance setting, an image size setting, and a picture style setting.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a switching unit configured to switch between a condition in which user's operation to at least one main-item or sub-item in the operation menu is limited based on the setting of said first and second setting units and a condition in which user can operate all main-items and sub-items in the operation menu.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an input unit configured to input a password, wherein the image capturing apparatus become possible to switch valid/invalid of setting of said first and second setting units by inputting the password by said input unit.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the user can change the password when the setting of said first and second setting units is invalid.
 6. A method of controlling an image capturing apparatus for capturing the image of a subject, said method comprising: a first setting step of setting able/unable to operate a desired main-item among a plurality of main-items in an operation menu of the image capturing apparatus which designates an image capturing condition of the image capturing apparatus; a second setting step of setting able/unable to operate a desired sub-item among a plurality of sub-items in a lower layer than that of the main item; a display step of displaying the operation menu based on the setting of said first and second setting steps when the image capturing apparatus is in an image capturing mode; a control step of setting user's operation to the operable main-item and sub-item enable and set user's operation to the inoperable main-item and sub-item disable; and a determination step of determining the image capturing condition based on the operable main-item and sub-item.
 7. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a program causing a computer to execute the method according to claim
 6. 